Breeding & Racing Magazine

More Sires Bred To 100+ US Mares

In the US, "the trend of more stallions servicing at least 100 mares in a season continued to increase this year when a record 126 stallions covered at least 100 mares (a 7.7% increase from last year when 117 stallions covered at least 100 mares)" reported thoroughbredtimes.com. The number of stallions in service in 2005 declined 4.4% to 3,097 while the number of mares those stallions bred declined 1% to 58,739 (though the US Jockey Club "expects to receive an additional 800-1,000 reports of mares bred this year). Jockey Club vice president of registration services Matt Iuliano commented: "Although we haven't received reports for about a quarter of all stallions, despite the requested August 1 submission date, reports of mares bred submitted to date indicate a continuation of the trend toward larger stallion book sizes. Historically this trend is accompanied by an increase in live foal & registration percentages, which would support our previously announced forecast of 37,300 registered foals for 2006." In terms of number of mares bred, Lion Heart led all stallions (covering a record 233 mares in his 1st season of service). Another rookie Chapel Royal covered 222 mares. Both stallions stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, which hosts the top 6 stallions by mares bred in 2005: Lion Heart, Chapel Royal, Giant's Causeway (215), Fusaichi Pegasus (213), Monashee Mountain (194) & Johannesburg (190). Medaglia d'Oro (at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Kentucky) covered 184 mares to rank 7th.